xxii 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



eyes upon every sunny bank which presented itself, 

 still, I could not observe a single lizard. These 

 pretty little children of summer, were all in their 

 winter's sleep, safe and secure from harm. 



But, now ornithology was certainly on the mend- 

 ing hand. Large flocks of finches flitted on before 

 us, whilst jays and magpies assured us by their 

 harsh notes and their chatterings, that they were 

 safe from the poison and exterminating guns of 

 such fell destroyers as our English gamekeepers. 



Still, this unexpected treat in animated nature, 

 could only be considered as accidental at the best ; 

 for from Calais to Rome, the traveller may pro- 

 nounce the country on each side of the highway, 

 little better than a barren wilderness so far as 

 regards living wild animals. It is clear then, that 

 the traveller, journeying on from town to town in 

 continental districts, will be sadly disappointed if 

 he expects to find even a very moderate shew of 

 birds in the surrounding country. But, that birds 

 do frequent these regions in vast abundance, is 

 beyond all doubt, by the ample supply to be found 

 in every town during the season ; especially in 

 Rome 5 where the daily consumption and supply 

 almost surpass belief. — I have known seventeen 

 thousand quails to be brought to the eternal city 

 in the course of one morning. 



